Bicycle power generating arrangement

ABSTRACT

A bicycle power generating arrangement includes a dynamo, a rack mounted on the frame of a bicycle and adapted to hold said dynamo, and wheel means coupled to the rack and disposed in contact with the ground and rotated to actuate the dynamo upon running of the bicycle, causing the dynamo to generate electricity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a bicycle power generatingarrangement, which comprises a rack mounted on the frame of a bicycle tohold wheel means on the ground, and a dynamo coupled to the wheel meansand actuated to generate electricity upon running of the bicycle.

[0002] Various structures of dynamos for bicycle have been disclosed.FIG. 1 shows a dynamo installed in the frame of a bicycle and pressed onthe tire of the front wheel according to the prior art. When rotatingthe front wheel of the bicycle, the dynamo is driven to generateelectricity. This structure of dynamo is not satisfactory in functionbecause much resisting force is produced against the pedaling effort ofthe bicycle rider. The resisting force comes from two sources. Onesource of the resisting force is the spring means, which forces therotor of the dynamo against the tire of the front wheel of the bicycle.Because the spring means imparts a pressure to the dynamo against thetire of the front wheel in direction perpendicular to the steeringdirection of the bicycle, much resisting force is produced againstrotation of the front wheel. The other source of the resisting force isthe force required to actuate the dynamo. The output capacity of adynamo for bicycle may be 6V, 3W. The power of 3W is not great. However,because the position of the driving power for the dynamo is at thelateral side of the tire of the front wheel of the bicycle, the arm offorce is long, and much resistance is produced when rotating the rotorof the dynamo. Another drawback of this structure of dynamo is that thetire of the front wheel of the bicycle wears quickly with use. Becausethe rotor of the dynamo rubs on the tire of the front wheel of thebicycle during rotation of the front wheel of the bicycle, the tire ofthe front wheel of the bicycle wears quickly. Furthermore, because therotor of the dynamo rubs on the tire of the front wheel of the bicycle,the front wheel of the bicycle tends to be forced out of alignment,causing the bicycle to vibrate during running. FIG. 2 illustratesanother structure of dynamo according to the prior art. This structureof dynamo is installed in the spokes of the front wheel of the bicycle,and actuated to generate electricity upon running of the bicycle. Thisstructure of dynamo also has drawbacks. Because the dynamo is notdetachable, it works upon running of the bicycle. In the daytime, it isnot necessary to provide electricity to the lamp of the bicycle, howeverthe dynamo still works. Further, because the revolving speed of thedynamo is equal to the revolving speed of the wheels of the bicycle, theintensity of magnetic field or the length of the enamel wire of thedynamo must be relatively increased so that sufficient output voltagecan be obtained (e=Blv, B=intensity of magnetic field, l=length ofenamel wire, v=velocity). However, increasing the intensity of magneticfield or the length of the enamel wire of the dynamo relativelyincreases the manufacturing cost of the dynamo and its dimension.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention has been accomplished to provide a bicyclepower generating arrangement, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.According to one aspect of the present invention, the bicycle powergenerating arrangement comprises a dynamo, and wheel means dragged fromthe frame of the bicycle and rotated over the ground to actuate thedynamo upon running of the bicycle. According to another aspect of thepresent invention, lock means is provided and adapted to lock the wheelmeans in a lifted position, preventing the wheel means from rotationduring running of the bicycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 illustrates a dynamo installed in the frame of a bicycleand pressed on the tire of the front wheel according to the prior art.

[0005]FIG. 2 illustrates another structure of dynamo installed in thespokes of the front wheel of a bicycle according to the prior art.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a dynamo coupled between twowheels according to the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but showing the control rod lifted,the wheels suspended in the open air above the ground.

[0009]FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 5.

[0010]FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a voltage stabilizing circuitaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a dynamo 10 is mounted on a rack 2 atthe frame of a bicycle, and actuated by wheels 10 to charge mechanicalenergy into electric energy. When riding the bicycle, the wheels 1 arerubbed over the ground and rotated, causing the dynamo 10 to chargemechanical energy into electric energy.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 3 again, the dynamo 10 comprises an axle 11fixedly connected between the wheels 1, a magnet 101 mounted on androtated with the axle 11, two windings 102 fixedly disposed at twoopposite sides of the magnet 101. When rotating the wheels 1, the magnet101 is rotated with the axle 11 relative to the windings 102, therebycausing electricity to be produced.

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 5A, the rack 2 comprises a frontmounting frame 21 fixedly fastened to the down tube of the bicycle, arear mounting frame 22 connected between a rear part of the frontmounting frame 21 and the chain stays of the bicycle, a movable frame 23having one end pivoted to the rear mounting frame 22 and an opposite endconnected to the shell of the dynamo 10, an upper barrel 25 and a lowerbarrel 26 fixedly fastened to the seat tube of the bicycle at differentelevations and arranged in a line, a tubular control rod 24 insertedthrough the upper barrel 25 and the lower barrel 26 and pivoted to themovable frame 23, and a spring hook 27 mounted in the control rod 24near the top end of the control rod 24. The spring hook 27 comprises ahandle portion 271 and a bevel guide face 272. When not in use, thecontrol rod 24 is pulled upwards to lift the movable frame 23. Whenlifting the control rod 24, the bevel guide face 272 of the spring hook27 is moved with the control rod 24 over the inside wall of the upperbarrel 25 without hindering upward movement of the control rod 24. Whenpassed over the upper barrel 25, the spring hook 27 immediately returnsto its former position and stopped above the top side 251 of the upperbarrel 25 to prohibit the control rod 24 from downward movement. At thistime, the movable frame 23 is turned to the upper position, and thewheels 1 are lifted from the ground and suspended in the open air (seeFIG. 5). When in use, the handle portion 271 is operated with the handto force the spring hook 27 back to the inside of the control rod 24 andto disengage the spring hook 27 from the upper barrel 25, enabling thecontrol rod 24 to be lowered in the barrels 25 and 26, and at the sametime the movable frame 23 is turned downwards to lower the dynamo 10 andto force the wheels 1 into contact with the ground (see FIG. 4). Whenpropelling the bicycle, the wheels 1 are continuously rotated, therebycausing the dynamo 10 to generate electricity.

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 again, a shock-absorbing spring 231 isconnected between the movable frame 23 and the shell of the dynamo 10.The shock-absorbing spring 231 absorbs shocks when the wheels 1 move onthe ground, preventing the wheels 1 from damage.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 6 and FIGS. 3 and 4 again, a rechargeablebattery box 3 is installed in the bicycle frame to receive electricitygenerated from the dynamo 10. The rechargeable battery box 3 comprises avoltage stabilizing circuit formed of a bridge rectifier and a zenerdiode. The voltage stabilizing circuit of the rechargeable battery box 3stabilizes electricity generated by the dynamo 10, and then providesstabilized electricity to the lamp or other electric apparatus attachedto the bicycle, or directly charges stabilized electricity to therechargeable battery in the rechargeable battery box 3.

[0016] While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described, it will be understood that various modifications andchanges could be made thereunto without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention disclosed.

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A bicycle power generating arrangementcomprising: a dynamo; a rack mounted on the frame of a bicycle andadapted to hold said dynamo; and wheel means coupled to said rack androtated to actuate said dynamo upon running of the bicycle, causing saiddynamo to generate electricity.
 2. The bicycle power generatingarrangement of claim 1 wherein said rack comprises a front mountingframe fixedly fastened to the frame of the bicycle, a rear mountingframe connected between a rear part of said front mounting frame and thechain stays of the bicycle, a movable frame, said movable frame havingone end pivoted to said rear mounting frame and an opposite end coupledto said dynamo and said wheel means, an upper barrel and a lower barrelfixedly fastened to the frame of the bicycle at different elevations andarranged in a line, a tubular control rod inserted through said upperbarrel and said lower barrel and pivoted to said movable frame and movedvertically between an upper position where said movable frame is turnedupwards to lift said wheel means from the ground, and a lower positionwhere said movable frame is turned downwards to force said wheel meansinto contact with the ground for enabling said wheel means to be rotatedto actuate said dynamo upon running of the bicycle, and lock meansadapted to lock said control rod in said upper position.
 3. The bicyclepower generating arrangement of claim 2 further comprisingshock-absorbing spring means coupled between said movable frame and saidwheel means to absorb shocks from said wheel means.
 4. The bicycle powergenerating arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a rechargeablebattery box installed in the frame of the bicycle, and a voltagestabilizing circuit installed in said rechargeable battery box andadapted to stabilize electricity generated by said dynamo for chargingrechargeable battery installed in said rechargeable battery box, saidvoltage stabilizing circuit comprising a bridge rectifier and a zenerdiode.